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Police to make their mark in Cam with new initiative to cut burglaries

101@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk

Wednesday 01 June 2016, 11:58 AM

Gloucestershire Police is launching a new campaign tomorrow (Thursday 2 June) to help residents in Cam mark their property and make it less appealing to criminals.

The force has secured around 1000 Smartwater forensic property marking kits and over the coming months officers will be visiting residents across the area to offer to apply it to high value items.

Police say that marking your possessions is a useful deterrent because the presence of the special liquid involved makes it harder for thieves to pass or sell the property on to others.

Senior Harm Reduction Advisor David McFarlane said: "We want to ensure that people's property stays with them and a good way to do that is to help the community mark their treasured possessions. It deters criminals, or in the unfortunate event of a burglary taking place, can help reunite people with their possessions.

"This is the second such operation carried out by Gloucestershire Constabulary's Community harm reduction team. The first started back in 2014 where residents in St Paul's in Cheltenham were offered a similar service. The result of the operation contributed to a 70 per cent drop in burglaries in the area.

"We know how effective these kits can be in supporting crime reduction, so I would encourage anyone who is offered one of these packs to take advantage of the offer."

The campaign is being launched at Dursley Police Station, Sandpits, Dursley at 10am on Thursday 2 June. Gloucestershire Constabulary's Community Engagement Vehicle (CEV) will be there and staff and officers will be on hand to offer crime prevention advice and provide more information on the campaign.